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The United World College in Mostar 48 School year 2017/2018 News

Contents 48

NEWS COLLEGE EVENTS A word from 3 International Day of Tolerance - a 13 UWC Mostar – the lighthouse of cooperation with OSCE Mission to education the editor... BiH 13 Promotion at the Education Fair 4 Šantić Residence and Diplomatic Winter Bazaar in

am pleased to introduce the 4 €1 Alumni Giving Campaign Sarajevo first 2018 edition of the UWC 4 Cooperation with Booking.com - 14 Successful international Mostar Newsletter. This edition going on holiday and supporting cooperation continues the tradition of shar- UWC Mostar 14 History, Culture and Politics of ing UWC values and mission, INTERNATIONAL DAY OF TOLERANCE Switzerland at UWC Mostar presentingI articles on topics of inter- 5 Project weeks 2017 est related to the academic and ex- 6 Praise for organization of the 14 Workshops for Mostar Student - A COOPERATION WITH OSCE MISSION TO BIH tracurricular activities and projects at European Researchers’ Night in Council UWC Mostar. You can enjoy stories mostar 15 Supporting a good cause related to student organized events, SCE Mission to Bosnia and promotion of tolerance, multiculturalism of Mostar” said Valentina Mindoljević, success of our alumni as well as the 8 Helping people in need – UWCiM x Herzegovina in cooperation and respect. UWC Mostar Headmistress. Head Adviser great impact UWC Mostar brings to Refugees in Serbia ALUMNI STORIES with civil society coalitions and UWC Mostar students participated in of the City of Mostar Radmila Komadina the local community with organiza- 10 UWC X Campus Volunteers in 16 Interview: Learn, Earn and Return organizations marked the Inter- the event with traditional dances from stated that our city can be a great example tion of events intended for both Onational Day of Tolerance in Mostar. Brazil, Nepal and Scotland as well as a of promoting tolerance and respect of Mostar local and international community 17 UWC Mostar alumna – recepient of Coalition in Mostar “Super citizens” has performance of a song of the Nordic people diversity. of Mostar. 12 Mapping the medieval monuments the International Student Award very successfully worked on a number of Saami and a beautiful recital from the 11th “City of Mostar greatly supports the in Herzegovina The first issue of the re-designed 16 Alumni Holiday Event projects, including the first half-marathon Century about tolerance and peace. initiatives of young people and NGOs and Newsletter will be directly linked to in Mostar, and many exchanges with other ‘’This is also a way that UWC Mostar is open for cooperation and projects that our official social media platforms, Thank you to Ms Jelena Athanasiou and balkanlifestylesite.wordpress.com for cooperation. cities and organizations. The International students help the process of integration contribute to the promotion of tolerance”, making it available to a wider audi- Day of Tolerance is closely linked to the and development of tolerance in the City concluded Ms Komadina. ence at any time. With the new year UWC Mostar also introduced a new monthly segment - "UWC Mostar in the media", which presents the most important monthly media coverages and stories of UWC Mostar's work and impact. You can subscribe by visiting our official webpage www. uwcmostar.ba. You are always welcome to con- nect with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or by email adla.velagic@ uwcim.uwc.org and share the UWC spirit! Adla Curic PR & Communications

2 UWC Mostar Newsletter 48 School year 2017/2018 3 News News

Šantić Residence PROJECT WEEKS IN 2017 tudents organize and participate students, and experience traveling. Let’s talk about Babushkas, Volunteering in weeklong projects — Project Projects weeks are enjoyable and reward- with Refugee Aid Serbia, Collaboration As a part of the long term plan of owning funds for the construction of the student Cooperation with Weeks — around BiH and the region ing, but can also be challenging. There is not and volunteering for the United Nations student residences in Mostar, funds were residence, now known as "Šantić residence" to extend UWC learning into the much that unifies project weeks: each one Development Programme, Robo star, Be a raised in order for the College to secure a (due to be completed in 2019). Booking.com - realS world. The possibilities of Project Weeks has its own unique character and strengths, green kid, Dig that man, Explore Tuzla with building with close proximity to the Gimna- It is through support of our donors that range from direct action, such as building and is right for a different student. us, Permaculture at Nesto Vise, Biking, Make zija building/UWC Mostar. The building will we can make the dream of growing the UWC going on holiday houses, to exploring street art in Sarajevo, to Project weeks 2017 included some amaz- Me a Sandwich, Stecak project - mapping me- be transformed into a student residence, community in Mostar possible! adventure-hiking. Be open to opportunities! ing activities and events: Youthful vision of dieval necropolis of Herzegovina, Challenge which will accommodate 55 students. We and supporting Every UWC has its own version of project Bosnia, Photography workshop with SOS Kin- your limits mindfully, Sport, Fun and Nature are very excited to be able to secure our For all inquiries on donations please con- weeks and these valuable experiences are dergarten in Tuzla, Traditional woodworking at Elaphiti island; Lopud, Bosnian-Swedish second student residence and a campaign tact: [email protected] or visit UWC Mostar part of what makes us different from many in Croatia, Unity makes us stronger - IB col- exchange, Expanding UWC reach – Macedo- has been launched and shared with parents, uwcmostar.ba/giving IB schools, allowing you to discover the area laboration, Poetical Herzegovina Landscapes, nia, Heaven on Balkan – Montenegro, Marine cooperants and friends in order to raise We are very excited to announce that surrounds you, bond with your fellow Hiking in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vukovar, biology, The beholding eye. that UWC Mostar has recently signed a cooperation contract with Booking.com! If you use this link to reserve accommodation on Booking.com, they will automatically donate a percentage of their service fee to UWC Mostar. This fund will support the travel costs for our scholarship students! Every successful accommodation booking made through our UWC Mostar micropage on Booking.com will result in a small donation for our school. More specifically, the funds will go into the 'travel fund' for students with demonstrated financial need from conflict and post-conflict areas. If you want to support UWC Mostar by bringing together students from over 60 countries worldwide, and travel the world - please book the accommodation for your next jour- ney using the this link.

€1 Alumni Giving Campaign

he campaign aimed at UWC Mostar to provide scholarships for 75% of the students We are incredibly grateful for the contribu- alumni donations of €1 per month with in the long term. tion of those who have signed up, but as we the purpose of building an alumni en- Up to the end of August (the financial year- have only about 8% of our alumni signed up, dowment for the ‘Bridge to the Future’ end for the endowment) we had: we clearly have more work to do! We really TEndowment Fund. • 68 individual donors donating hope that you will join in and that you will With help of donors, the Endowment has • 53 recurring donations ranging from €1 to encourage your student cohort in joining the been able to increase the number of scholar- €10 (or other currencies) per month campaign: ships from 11 to 16 in the current year and there • In total €1,608 in donations through the are now in total 27 students at UWC Mostar campaign in 3 months http://www.mostarendowment.com/alumni. with a scholarship from the ‘Bridge to the • For the recurring donations, it would approxi- html Future’ Endowment. The plan is to raise funds mate to €3,216 a year

4 UWC Mostar Newsletter 48 School year 2017/2018 5 News News

PRAISE FOR ORGANIZATION OF THE EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS’ NIGHT IN MOSTAR

Six BH cities -Mostar, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Goražde and Travnik joined over one million people who celebrate science in over 300 cities of Europe.

uropean Researchers Night in Mostar was once again successfully organized by UWC and provided an opportunity for promotion of science, scientists, fun games, experiments and competitions. The programme included workshops, presenta- tions, interactive activities, lectures and science fun. The event wasE officially opened by the Minister of education and science Ms Elvira Dilberović and UWC Mostar headmistress Valentina Mindoljević. Guests and visitors had an opportunity to meet scientists, explore different innovations, scientific researches and projects, but also attend interesting lectures and experiments. Spanish square hosted a number of promotional booths and competition for high school and elementary school students. Along with water rockets, treasure hunts and artistic exhibitions with the topic of science, this year’s programme included a robot and formula 1 presentation. The best scientific projects were awarded at an official ceremony which took place at the Federal Govern- ment building in Mostar. The successful realization of the event was supported by project partners: Federal Ministry of Education and Science, City of Mostar, University Džemal Bijedić Mostar, Faculty of Engineering and IT – University of Mostar, Faculty of Information Technologies, INTERA Technology Park, Center for Media partners: • Enables transfer of scientists’ knowledge technical culture Mostar, Sports Academy “Little Bridge”, Mostar Rock Dnevni List, City TV BiH, Bljesak.info, to younger generations in an informal School, Fortuna Tours, Bingo, TDK Šahinpašić, Print Center Green. Običan Radio, Novasloboda.ba. environment, contributing in that way to European Researchers Night encourages the demystification of science citizens to think about science, research • Encourages young people to think of sci- and innovations, and this event has multi- ence as a possible career ple benefits: • Gathers in one place: those working in • Contributes to awareness raising in science, those who would like to get different sectors of society, including involved, those responsible for support, business community, on the importance as well as those who could provide the of science and how to get involved in support science projects and use funds supporting • Linking students and scientists from a science development number of Bosnia and Herzegovina towns • Presents the opportunity for meetings of through meetings in one place scientists and people working in science • Influences the development of volun- and research, as well as establishing new teering spirit amongst young people cooperation initiatives and exchange of knowledge in this field

6 UWC Mostar Newsletter 48 School year 2017/2018 7 News News

UWC Mostar students and staff deeply concerned about the current situation of thousands of refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan stuck in Belgrade railway station, decided to take action by raising money for the purchase of clothing, warm meals, hygiene items and other essential goods to the refugees. In coordination with the NGO “Refugee Aid Serbia” and other organizations, first team of UWC Mostar volunteers continues to help in Belgrade and give aid to the NGO’s working with volunteers. Report by Paolo Cassina

HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED - UWCIM REFUGEES IN SERBIA PROJECT

The situation in Belgrade has changed a lot since the last time we had last been there. The barracks behind Belgrade’s main railway station, which last year were the only shelter for the thousands of refugees in the city, have been destroyed, and all the migrants have been transferred to the camps around Belgrade…

he emergency, however, still lingers Some of these organisations, like Info languages. and the different associations and park, receive the migrants who have first Every mid-morning the headquarters of NGOs work as much as before to arrived in the city and ensure they receive Info park get crowded with busy volunteers offer help to the refugees who keep legal and practical advice, but they also or- and smiling refugees of all ages. Our large Tcoming in the city. ganise workshops and classes of European and heterogeneous group of students held

workshops about European geography and the camps with the lowering temperature organised games and activities with the in winter. younger ones. Then, we would help in cleaning the It was not surprising to see our first-year kitchen after the cooking of meals for students especially engaged and enthusias- the refugees, and getting it ready for the tic in this work. next day, an activity through which we Having a direct and genuine contact with discovered some great talents among us in refugees who are willing to share their sto- peeling potatoes and cleaning pots. ries is always eye-opening and profoundly The effort of BelgrAid, its hard-working impacting; and listening to our peers, or and organised volunteers have been ex- even younger boys and girls, telling about tremely inspiring to us, and we were very what made them leave their homes, their glad to find people from all around the endless journeys, the abuses and neglect world who dedicate their time, energies they had to face from the authorities, and and resources to bring aid in critical condi- when they will attempt, once again, to tions. cross the border, is something that really As this project continues, we also feel to changes the perception of the refugee crisis, thank all the people who have been sup- by showing an often overlooked perspec- porting us by donating to our crowd-fund- tive, the one made of the individual stories ing campaign and spreading our word: we and experiences. are determined to continue our action and By dividing ourselves in two groups, we are very grateful to all those who helped us also worked in the offices of BelgrAid, an by believing in this initiative. organisation involved in the distribution of clothes and hot meals in the camps. We spent hours every day sorting out, If you wish to support the initiative and cataloguing, and putting into boxes hun- UWCiM x Refugees in Serbia project, dreds of clothes that had been donated to please visit: https://www.facebook.com/ BelgrAid and that would be distributed in uwcimxrefugeesserbia

8 UWC Mostar Newsletter 48 School year 2017/2018 9 News News

UWCX CAMPUS VOLUNTEERS IN MOSTAR! COMMUNITY CENTER MUSALA AND URBAN GARDEN Creating Musala Social Centre and an Urban Garden has been the biggest project the Campus Volunteers have attempted so far! Musala Social Centre – an unusual space – how on earth could it be changed into a place students would enjoy being in? The Urban Garden – well – a challenge if ever there was one! And only 5 days to complete both projects!

By Julie Jones, Chair UWCx Campus Volunteers

and Jon set about the structural work and arrived back from their Project Weeks! grounds at Atlantic College prior to the 50th starting the painting – with support from ‘UWCx Campus Volunteers are proud Anniversary celebrations of the movement. Peter and Helen. Students came in to help to be involved with UWC Mostar. It is A number of working parties were set PREPARATION? when needed, with Jill and UWC Mostar fabulous that alumni and friends with time up. Working hard the volunteers had a Jill and Julie came out to the College at the end of April to look in per- staff Senija and Adis making sure supplies and skills to give, can work with today’s stu- really great time! It was decided to carry son at ideas and plans – see what skills would be needed and identify were in the right place at the right time! dents to deliver brilliant new facilities. The on after the anniversary. Since 2012, 24 where supplies could be sourced. The €8k budget for the project was The students of the Environmental project really demonstrates UWC values in volunteer sessions have been held at UWC made by an anonymous donor and needed careful management. Group were the key to getting The Urban action!’ said Jill Longson. Atlantic College, with work carried out on Lots of pictures were taken at Musala House, and helped one of our Garden project delivered supported by Volunteers loved getting to know the 2 dayrooms, social centre, guest rooms as volunteers - Jenny, an interior designer – a proposed plan was designed Julie and Mary Beth. Led by Dorian (UWC students at break times, and getting to well as the gardens. and shared with the College for comments. Lots of emails flew back Mostar 18) – his team set about the really know the city in the evening! In December 2016 the Group became and forward to finalise the plan for the week! hard work of clearing the land with gusto! UWCx accredited after submitting an ap- Meeting with the Student Environmental Group was the key to The Once the plot had been cleared, a mem- WHO ARE THE UWCX CAMPUS plication to UWC International. Urban Garden project. They had been working hard on a plan for some brane and gravel put in place, Jon came to VOLUNTEERS? while and this was the basis of the work during the week. lead the planter building, constructed us- A group of alumni, parents and friends of HOW DID THE CAMPUS ing old palette boards, which transformed UWC. Around 30 volunteers have taken VOLUNTEERS ARRIVE IN THE WEEK the area! ‘I have nothing but admiration part over 5 years. Usually around 5 – 10 MOSTAR? 8 volunteers came over to Mostar – 3 alumni, and 5 friends, including for the team, who learned a lot about the volunteers take part each time. Jill Longson also sat on the UWC Interna- three professional builders taking time out to volunteer! Not many ‘design process’ as well as pulling together tional Board and saw the opportunity of people you think – quite right! The support of students and staff was to get the job done!’ said Julie. ‘They WHEN WAS THE GROUP SET UP? spreading our example to more colleges in the key to getting everything finished on time in what was a very hectic worked so hard throughout the week and Starting out as UWC Atlantic College the Network. Back in 2016 we were in UW- week. can be really proud of the results!’ Volunteers, back in 2012 a number of CAD to help prepare for the UWC Congress The volunteers and students met up first thing on Monday morning Student reaction to the Social Centre alumni from UWCAC saw the need to help and as a result Valentina Mindoljević invited to meet each other and work began straight away on Musala. Giz, Andy and Garden was great to watch, as they staff teams to spruce up the gardens and us to Mostar.

10 UWC Mostar Newsletter 48 School year 2017/2018 11 News College Events

UWC Mostar – the lighthouse of STUDENTS LEADING THE WAY – education MAPPING THE MEDIEVAL MONUMENTS Ms Pilvi Torsti, Chair of the Foundation Ed- ucation in Action, held a presentation and IN HERZEGOVINA discussion on the history and present of the college - “UWC Mostar as the lighthouse of education” to UWC Mostar students and staff. The lecture was greatly appreci- ated by students and staff who expressed interested to hear about the beginnings and successes of UWC Mostar in the past 11 years by one of the founders. Ms Torsti holds a PhD in Social Sciences and is Adjunct professor of Political History at the University of Helsinki, vice-MP of the National Parliament, City Councilor and Member of the City Government in Hel- Promotion at the Education Fair and sinki and Chairman of the Helsinki Social Democrats. Doctor Torsti was appointed as Diplomatic Winter Bazaar in Sarajevo a State Secretary for the Minister of Educa- tion (2013-2015) and as a Special Advisor UWC Mostar participated in two great sadors, officials and potential students and to the Minister at the Ministry of Employ- events in Sarajevo - Education Fair & their parents alike and we enjoyed making ment and Economy (2011-2013). Before Diplomatic Winter Bazaar. Participating new contacts and future cooperations. serving the government she worked as a with over 30 institutions and organizations In addition to promoting UWC Mostar, we Research Director and Programme Director from BiH, we presented UWC Mostar, our had great pleasure and joy of presenting the in post-war educational project, being also programme, students, scholarships and wonderful handcrafts and artwork made by one of the founders of the United World everything the vistors of the Education Fair Elementary school for children with special College in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Doctor in Sarajevo wanted to know about being a needs, Center for children and youth with Torsti has also worked as a journalist and is part of UWC Mostar family. special needs „Los Rosales“and the ladies Stećak (Cyrillic: Стећак, [stetɕak]; plural: Stećci, Стећци, [stetɕtsi]) is the name for monumental medieval the author of several academic and general Diplomatic Winter Bazaar was a lot of from the Refugee Camp “Tasovčići”. UWC tombstones that lie scattered across Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the border parts of Croatia, Montenegro interest books and has been honored for fun for all of us with 40 embassies and Mostar used the opportunity to say thank her work towards peace. She is a UWC over 60 organizations and institutions. Our you for being our wonderful cooperants and and Serbia. An estimated 60,000 are found within the borders of modern Bosnia and Herzegovina and the rest graduate (AD 1995). promotional booth was visited by ambas- friends for so many years! of 10,000 are found in what are today Croatia (4,400), Montenegro (3,500), and Serbia (2,100), at more than 3,300 odd sites with over 90% in poor condition.

WC Mostar students with their are also collecting information that might teacher Dženan Hakalović initi- lead to some further steps in renovation of ated the project of mapping the these monuments because some of them locations for medieval necropolis are being extinct, because of neglect and inU Herzegovina. Dženan Hakalović, UWC age.' concluded Dženan. Mostar History teacher and initiator of the The ultimate goal is to create a map of project emphasized that this is a school medieval necropolis on the territory of project with a tendency of collecting infor- Herzegovina in a wider geographical sense. mation about “stećci” in our vicinity. The idea is to update data every year with “The project started as an idea to do new information and location, but also to an archaeological survey of the terrain in create a web page and multidimensional order to confirm the number of the medi- presentation in English and BHS languages. eval necropoli, and in order to introduce UWC Mostar students have been work- students from BiH, region and the world ing on the project with great interest since to the history of BiH and the region” said 2015 and are planning to continue their Dženan. great work. The project itself has gained a 'In addition to introducing students to lot of media attention and interest in the their environment, history, artistic expres- medieval monuments in the Herzegovina sion and culture unique for the area, we region. Ambassador of Slovenia in BiH, H.E. Ms Zorica Bukinac US Ambassador to BiH, H.E. Ms Maureen Cormack

12 UWC Mostar Newsletter 48 School year 2016/2017 13 College Events College Events

Successful international cooperation

Animal Care Center in cooperation with the “One of CASes at UWC Mostar is caring German organization “Streunergluck” and for abandoned animals and we have been SUPPORTING A GOOD CAUSE – UWC Mostar students constructed 15 dog cooperating with Animal Care Center and houses for abandoned street dogs of Mostar. “Streunergluck” for a few years now. Since HELPING THE REFUGEE CAMP “TASOVČIĆI” The main goal of the activity was to there is no real shelter for dogs, the idea was provide shelter for street dogs during the to make temporary dog houses in order to cold winter days. keep them arm during the winter season” As stated by representatives of Animal said Danijela Ćetković, UWC Mostar Care Center, the number of street dogs in teacher and CAS leader. Mostar is increasing. UWC Mostar students Animal Care Center works on several pro- helped with construction of temporary dog jects for helping animals and our coopera- houses made of styrofoam, cardboard and tion will continue in the future as well. History, Culture nylon. and Politics of Switzerland at UWC Mostar

UWC Mostar staff and students had According to the official data, there the honor of a visit by the Ambassador are over 120 collective centers of Switzerland in BiH, H.E. Ms Andrea with over 2500 families in BiH and Rauber Saxer. Ambassador Saxer held a presentation and discussion on Swiss Refugee Camp “Tasovčići” near history and politics and a Q&A ses- Čapljina is one of them. Refugee sion with our students. Our students learned interesting facts about Swiss Camp “Tasovčići” has been a home history, culture, tradition and political to refugees from mostly central system, but also quite a few interesting facts related to languages and the Bosnia and Konjic since 1992. For the country itself. people who live here it is now the only home they have.

Workshops for hey all live dreaming of a better all proceeds went to the Refugee Camp ket” was of great help for our action. Mostar Student tomorrow, hoping for better living “Tasovčići”. Over 100 pairs of the hand- On the other hand, the pape project is an conditions and life they had in their made wool socks were sold with this great activity in which students get to practice Council own homes. UWC Mostar students action and our students continue to work some level of empowerment for the people Twho volunteer at the camp help them in and plan different activities throughout the in need (specifically women), instead of UWC Mostar students and any way they can and have been a bright year in order to make the lives of the people only delivering items. It is crucial to men- representatives in Mostar Student example of support for years. Our students who found their home in the Reugee Camp tion that we received enormous support Council Ivana Filipović and Tarik Raljević, organize different activities in order to raise “Tasovčići” a little bit brighter and better. from Mrs. Kuban, the mother of our Slovak hosted a workshop for students from all funds for the people in the refugee camp, “Refugee Camp CAS offers students an alumna. The women at the camp, all of an high schools in the City of Mostar. supermarket actions and collection of opportunity to engage in different types of older age and most commonly unable to The aim of the workshop was donations. volunteering. This year the most successful find work, tend to share with us the various to bring the new council members This semester the activities have brought activities were the flea market, the supermar- purposes they end up using this money for: closer together and improve internal joy to the people in the refugee camp once ket actions and the pape project. paying for their child’s education, for their communication in order to implement again, through successful supermarket For a flea market clothes are collected in medicine or for electricity - all very basic future projects more successfully. This actions with over 25 bags of donated food the community and later sold to our school needs. It is projects like these, on top of was achieved through various team- and donations in kind including wonderful body and beyond as second hand items, for personal connections with inhabitants of building activities and communication holiday gifts for the children. They also con- very reasonable prices. That money is further the camp, that raise awareness in young vol- exercises, and a presentation on the tributed through the sale of handmade wool transferred into dry/longer-lasting food and unteers about the necessity and importance importance of body language in everyday socks “pape” made by the women from the added to the food items gathered in supermar- of work and empowerment in individuals interactions. refugee camp. Students organized a sale of ket actions - all of which is equally delivered to in need, instead of often de-individualizing UWC Mostar students helped paint a “pape” for our community, but these were every family at the camp. It is worth mention- humanitarian actions.” clearer picture of UWC spirit, values and also available for purchase at the Diplomatic ing that a lot of donations were gathered from Dorontine Berishaj, atmosphere to the council members. Winter Bazar in Sarajevo and like every time, both actions and that supermarket “Megamar- student supervisor for refugee camp

14 UWC Mostar Newsletter 48 School year 2017/2018 15 Alumni stories Alumni stories

INTERVIEW EARN, LEARN AND RETURN

Is it possible that a person who hasn’t reached 30 had a chance to consult several political and business leaders around the world, – from US governor to CEOs of some top taxpayer companies, developed a unique business strategy and development methodology and authored a book which is used as a standard in an international data security company, taught at the university level, and has done a few more things on the side?

By Jelena Athanasiou, “We are the Balkans” (balkanlifestylesite.wordpress.com)

o be honest, we didn’t believe that this is possible until we met Djordje Hinic. When we asked Djordje to share his story, we were honored he accepted it. The way he thinks about work and success should be cornerstone of thinking for every person Tthat wants to fulfill their business and life dreams. The only way you could truly become successful is to find your passion. The very instance you find it, your job becomes your hobby and you lose the notion of work hours, weekends, etc. You know you found it when you continuously chose to rather work on your project than watch a football game, movie or series. If you did not find it, keep looking, because the last thing you want is spend your entire working life stressed about doing something without the purpose. After he shared his formula, we asked him if he could remember something which inspired him and changed or challenged his way of thinking. During my studies, I was invited to have lunch with an American bil- lionaire who funded my education. He shared with me his motto: the first 30 years of your life you should learn. The second 30 years you shall earn, and last 30 years you shall return. Although fascinated by this statement, Djordje didn’t accept if fully. He thought that one can learn and contribute to the society more if she/he does all those things at the same time. Aside from business, Djordje always finds a way to inspire others and to share his experiences and lessons from around the world. At the moment, Djordje is lobbying for scholarships and is a part of an international organization that awards the smartest high school students from Serbia. Few months ago, he was invited to join the Rotary society in Bel- grade as the youngest member to ever join the society. Through this club, Djordje believes that he will be able to make an even greater contribution to the community. Djordje’s work and accomplishments are remarkable and flawless and could be an inspiration to many. They are testimony that one’s age must not restrain professional growth and development.

16 UWC Mostar Newsletter 48 School year 2017/2018 17 Alumni stories

UWC MOSTAR ALUMNA – RECEPIENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AWARD

he International Student Awards limits and venturing beyond your comfort zone Ceremony was initiated to highlight to achieve a greater goal! International stu- the accomplishments of interna- dents are always a great addition to any com- tional students at the University of munity or college and I am so happy University TFlorida. The awards are designed to recognize of Florida supports and fosters diversity of all students who not only meet exemplary aca- kinds and the good achieved with minds who demic achievement, but also a wide range think differently and come from all pockets of of accomplishments and contributions. Ana the world! I am honored to be the Undergradu- Jelačić, recepient of the Herbert Wertheim ate recipient of the Herbert Wertheim College College of Engineering UFIC Outstanding of Engineering UFIC Outstanding International International Student Award for 2017, gradu- Student Award for 2017! Hard work pays off ated from UWC Mostar in 2014 and sucess- and I am thankful to have an amazing Engineer- fully continued her education in USA. ing and International community of friends and “ In my opinion being an International Stu- professors who value and award passion” dent has lots of challenges especially with the Ana Jelačić, recent events, but it is all about pushing your UWC Mostar, Class of 2014

Alumni Holiday Event catch up but also to share knowledge and on June 29th 2018 in Mostar! experiences among alumni, get to know We are delighted to be inviting our alumni B&H start-up scene, hear Ted talk style back for the first and second generation In order to facilitate the interaction and inspirational speeches by successful alumni, reunion. We are certain that you will mark networking among UWC Mostar alumni, to learn about queer career pathways and this day in your calendar to walk down the UWC Mostar organized the first UWC Mo- hear all the latest news from UWC Mostar. memory lanes and spend time with your star Alumni Holiday Event in Sarajevo. UWC Mostar is also pleased to announce teachers, mentors and not the least, your It was wonderful to see familiar faces and Alumni Reunion (Class of 2008 and 2009) friends and colleagues.

18 UWC Mostar Newsletter 48